As Donald Trump prepared to speak at the Republican National Convention, Canada鈥檚 ambassador to the United States was urging Canadians to talk to Americans about the countries鈥� important relationship.

鈥淚f you are at the lake this summer with some American neighbours, just take a moment to remind yourselves and themselves how lucky we are to have each other as neighbours,鈥� said Kirsten Hillman, who is attending the convention in Milwaukee.

鈥淎nd how much prosperity and security we get out of it.鈥�

Trump, who is poised to formally accept the Republican presidential nomination, was expected to speak publicly Thursday evening for the first time since an assassination attempt last weekend.

He has attended each night of the convention, his right ear covered in a white bandage after being pierced by a bullet when a gunman fired from a rooftop near a Saturday rally in Pennsylvania.

The four-day convention has invigorated the Republican base behind Trump, and supporters say the former president will unify the party and the country. The final day 鈥� with the theme 鈥淢ake America Great Once Again鈥� 鈥� is expected to lay out Trump鈥檚 vision for the country.

鈥淭rump will usher in a new golden age for America. At home and abroad, America鈥檚 standing will be restored,鈥� a description of the theme says.

Some global leaders have expressed worries about the looming possibility Trump will return to the White House, as President Joe Biden steps back from campaigning after testing positive for COVID-19 this week at a critical time for the Democrats.

Speculation about Biden鈥檚 future and mental acuity have been swirling after a disastrous debate performance against Trump last month and multiple missteps at the NATO leaders鈥� summit in Washington last week.

Ohio Sen. JD Vance, Trump鈥檚 choice as running mate, has been a vocal opponent of U.S. military aid to Ukraine as it fends off Russia鈥檚 invasion. In addition, Trump has repeatedly said he would not defend NATO members that don鈥檛 meet defence spending targets.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has promised to meet the spending target, the equivalent of two per cent of gross domestic product, by 2032. But he has been criticized for the lengthy timeline and the lack of detail on how Ottawa will make it happen.

Several premiers have urged Canada to meet the NATO spending target, stressing a need to preserve bilateral relations.

鈥淔or Canada and its relationship with the United States 鈥� we are significant trading partners 鈥� we want them to respect us fully, in all aspects, including our ability to honour obligations,鈥� said Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston at the Council of the Federation meeting this week in Halifax.

Trump has also mused about higher duties on foreign goods, suggesting a blanket 10 per cent tariff on nearly all imports.

In an interview, Hillman said the United States is a 鈥渘oisy ecosystem,鈥� and it takes a lot of work to ensure information about the Canadian relationship gets through. But, she said, it鈥檚 extremely important to ensure Americans understand that Canada鈥檚 success is their success.

Hillman said she has met senators, representatives of Congress and members of Trump鈥檚 previous administration at the convention. People are talking about things that matter to them 鈥渢hat are not related exclusively to who they have nominated for their presidential candidate,鈥� she said.

鈥淔undamentally, Americans who are elected to represent their people want to make sure that they are prosperous, that they are safe, that they have a future, that their children have a future 鈥� and their relationship with Canada is a real contributor to those goals.鈥�

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